Ribbon guide for typewriters or like machines



y 1948' A E. DAVHS 2,442,233

RIBBON GUIDE FOR 'I'YPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES Filed May 2 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ATf/zur E Davis A ATTOHNEKS May 25, 1948. A. E. DAVIS RIBBON GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES Filed May 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I s w H mwzm N O wjww NE at J! T A K B Patented May 25, 1948 RIBBON GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES Arthur E. Davis, Queens Village, N. Y., assignor to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 2, 1946, Serial No. 666,743

Claims. (01. 197-470) This invention relates to ribbon guides for type-writer or like machines, and more particularly to guides of the class referred to which are constructed or equipped to facilitate introducing aribbon into the guide.

It is well known that commonly used conventional typewriter ribbon guides, for example those embodied in ribbon vibrators or in connection with ribbon reversing mechanism, are so constructed as to require the ribbon to be threaded lengthwise through the guide opening or to be slipped edgewise through a narrow entrance slot leading to the guide opening. This requires rather awkward fingering and handling of the ribbon with consequent loss of time and soiling of the operators fingers. The same difficulties are encountered in removing an old ribbon.

An object .of the present invention is to provide a ribbon guide of the general class referred to including improved means such as a latch or retainer for holding the ribbon against displacement from the guide slot, and which may be moved relatively to the other guide part or parts so as to facilitate inserting a ribbon in or removing it from the guide slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide of the characterstated in which the latch or retainer is of improved construction, and is so related to other parts of the guide as to be movable between two definite limit positions determined by stops to prevent damaging of the parts, which otherwise could occur if the latch 01' retainer were inadvertently to be forced beyond its normal range of movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon guide of the kind described including simple and effective means for releasably holding the latch or retainer in closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon guide of the character referred to adapted for use in connection with typewriter ribbon vibrators and ribbon reversing mechanism.

Other objects will become apparent from. a reading of the following description, the. appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View showing the improved ribbon guide em- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown 2 in Figure 1 and showing additionally a portion of the typewriter platen or printing cylinder;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the ribbon vibrator and associated ribbon latches drawn on an enlarged scale and showing the latches in open positions;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a ribbon latch .or retainer;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the latch or retainer shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the latch or retainer as seen from the left of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the ribbon vibrator with the latching or retaining fingers omitted;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view sh0W ing'in detail the relative positions occupied by a ribbon latch and relatively fixed ribbon guide part when the latch first engages the guide part during movement towards closed position; and

Figure 10 is an elevation drawn on an enlarged scale and showing ribbon guiding means associated with a ribbon'reversing actuator as shown at the right in Figures 1 and 2.

Ribbon guides having some features in common with the guide disclosed herein are disclosed in the co-pending applications of David H. Collins, Ser. No. 666,742, filed May 2, 1946; Lewis C. Myers and William Graepel, Ser. No. 666,744, filed May 2, 1946; and Lewis 0. Myers, Ser. No. 692,971, filed August 26, 1946.

A preferred form of improved ribbon guide constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive as being embodied in a ribbon vibrator A mounted forvertical reciprocation with respect to a conventional type bar segment B and printing cylinder or platen C. A typewriter ribbon D is shown as extending between ribbon spools EE mounted respectively on shafts F-F; and a card guide scale is shown at G.

With the exception of the ribbon guide means with which it is provided, the ribbon vibrator A is of the form employed in Royal typewriters, but it may be of other form or construction and it will be understood that guide means constructed in accordance with the invention may be embodied in typewriter parts other than ribbon vibrators and may be used in typewriters of different makes or constructions.

The ribbon vibrator A includes a lower stem portion 1 and two guide proper portions generally designated 2-2 spaced from each other above tion of the ribbon.

the stem portion I and being disposed in front of the writing line of the platen C. Each guide portion 2 comprises two mutually spaced upstanding finger parts 3 and 4 between which is 7 an open top ribbon guiding slot 5. In use, the ribbon D extends in front of the outer fingers 4- 4 through the slots 5'-5, and behind' the inner fingers it-3. 1

The tops of the slots'S-E may be closed by ribbon latches or retainers 66 when a ribbon. is in place and the machine is conditioned for operation. Each latch 6 preferably is for-medfi of sheet metal cut and bent or pressed to the novel form shown in detail in Figures l .to '8 inclusive, Each latch 6 comprises a plate bent or formed to channel shape or section with opposed' flanges I and 8 and a connecting portion 9. The

1 channel sections are bent transversely as at It to conform to or align respectively with the pairs of finger parts 3 and 4 which, as shown in Figure 7;, are disposed in planes inclined with respect' to each other; 7

Each latch 6 isformed withfiange extensions or ears i----l-'i depending from the respective.

fla-ng-es. The ears "I i--1l' of each latch ii 'are apertured as at I! for receivinga pin I3 by which the latch is mounted pivotal'ly on one of the inner guide fingers 3. Each latch 6 also is formed with opposed flange extensions or .ears

.i4l4 adapted to embrace and engage opposite faces of the associated outer-guide fingers 4 with 1 posite sides of the fingers. When the latches are when the fiange portions or ears I l-14 begin to pass over the upper ends of the fingers 4-4,

the central planes between the ears are inclined with respect to the planes of the respectively associated fingers 4-4. This is due to the mutual inclination of the fingers 3 and 4 andthe bends H1 in the latches B. 'Theresult is that when the latches are forced from the Figure 9 position downwardly, i. e., towards'closed posi-.-.

tion, the ears or flange parts l4-l4 have to be sprung. apart slightly. When the latches are'in completely closed position, the central planes of the pairs of ears i4-l4 are parallel to the associated fingers 4-4 and the ears lie in fiat or.

planar face-to-face frictional contact'with opmoved from closed position toward open position, they must pass through the position shown in Figure 9; and in this position the ears l4-'-|4 engage the fingers 4 more forcibly. Consequently,

the latches will'be held securely, although Ire-' leasably, in closed position: evenif, initimeythe parts should" wear enough to produce. a slightclearance between the fingersh and. thea'latch ears l4-I4 in their fully closed positions.

Figures 1, Zand lOshow one other of-th'eEmany constructions. in which the invention may-he em-f bodied. As is wellknown,sometypewritersfare equipped with ribbon reversing mechanism' 'in which a part for actuating thereversing: gears V or control train therefor'isimoved by abutton face-to-face frictional contact when the latch is infthe closedpositionshown in Figure The planes of the'flange extensions 'l4- l4 are at a moderate inclination to the axis of the pivot pin F3; due to the bend H) in the-latch. r 'In accordance with the invention, novel and improved meansv are incorporated in the ribbon guide and latch construction: for determining the limits of movement ofFthe ia'tches 'E- iiso' as to prevent damaging of the parts which otherwise could result fromover-movement of the latches.

The arrangement isi such that the inside of the connecting portion 9 of each latch 5 engages the top edge of the associated outer guide part' ciatedguide slots 5, ithereby' leavingthe slots completely unobstructed and facilitating inser- Preferably, the latches Gare formed with or projection'onthe ribbon'wh-eni the ribbon has been nearly'unwound fronflone spool. Figures '1 and 2 show such reversing actuators tal -1e mounted in cormection-wi-th or adjacent the'il'lb- I bonspool shafts F. 'Theactuaters ES-areadapted to beconnected to' other-parts or the reversing mechanism (-not shown) which may be-ofhnown construction, for. example: a" construction or the kind shown in United States Patent 20.56317? to Handleye The actuators it are formed-re spectively with'the two slots 19- 49 which re V ceive fixed. pins ;or bars mp2s to; mount-the actuators for'sliding movements] TEath EtCfl-iatfii 7 I8 is formed with an upstanding proj ectionrfi".

comprising finger or guide parts S -41 deli-neat- ,ing an open ended guide slot 5'". Latches- "-=6", the same in construction as the latches: *6

mountedonthe ribbon vibrator A, pivctally V mounted'by pins l3" on-the fingers orguideparts 3' and are adaptedto be frictionally'heldrin .closed position in contact with the guide parts 4' and to be movable to open position in the manner previously described with reference. to the latches are disposed entirely out ofthe lines of the assofinger pieces I! which facilitate? manipulation of the latches.

In use, when it is desired to insert'a ribbon in the slots 5-5 the latches -6'-B are moved to the open positions shown in Figure 3," in which they are stopped by engagement of the latch inner end parts; I 5 withthe edges 16 of 'the guide parts 3; The slots 5-95 will then be. com

pletely open at their upper ends and the ribbon may be inserted without difficulty. 'Thelatches may then be moved to the positions shown in F gure 1 in which they act as ribbon retainers. Byreferring to Figure '9; it will 'beseen? that B l?arts ofthe latches -6" are des'ignatedzby primed numeralslsimilar to'the unp'rimed numerals designating. corresponding parts .of..the latches 6.

7 The construction disclosedembodies the invention in itsipreferred form,,but. it willbe understood that changes may be made without departing claims.

'Iclaimr V "i 1. In a ribbon guide for fa typewriter er like -machine,"a guide proper comprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening' guide 'sl'ot'; a "channel shaped ribbon Iatch comprising opposed flanges: andaconnecting Portion; and means pivotalljrmounting "said latch eriiene of' said guidepartswith saidflanges being disppsed. 7 on opposite'sides of said oneof 'saidguide-parts,

said' latch being movable to open positi'i n for enabling a ribbon toibe 'inserted gedgewiseiinto said 'slotand to closed. positionin" which: said 7 from the invention as defined in the latch extends across said slot with said flanges being disposed on opposite sides of and frictionally engaging the other of said guide parts.

2. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine, a guide proper comprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a channel shaped ribbon latch comprising opposed flanges and a connecting portion; and means pivotally mounting said latch on one of said guide parts with said flanges being disposed on opposite sides of said one of said guide parts, said latch being movable to open position for enabling a ribbon to be inserted edgewise into said slot and to closed position in which said latch extends across said slot with said flanges being disposed on opposite sides of and frictionally engaging the other of said guide parts, said connecting portion of said latch engaging the end of said other of said guide parts when said latch is in closed position for preventing movement of said latch beyond a predetermined closed position.

3. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine, a guide proper comprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a channel shaped ribbon latch comprising opposed flanges and a connecting portion; and means pivotally mounting said latch on one of said guide parts with said flanges being disposed on opposite sides of said one of said guide parts, said latch being movable to open position for enabling a ribbon to be inserted edgewise into said slot and to closed position in which said latch extends across said slot with said flanges being disposed on opposite sides of and frictionally engaging the other of said guide parts, the end of said connecting portion of said latch adjacent said pivotal connection being engageable with said one of said guide parts when said latch is moved to open position for stopping such movement when the entire latch is completely out of the line of said slot.

4. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine, a uide proper comprising two spaced ing said latch on one of said guide parts to move to a closed position in which it projects across the end of said slot and to an open position in which the end of the slot is left open for edgewise insertion of a ribbon, said latch having two spaced opposed portions adapted to have frictional engagement respectively with opposite faces of the other of said guide parts for releasably holding said latch in closed position.

5. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine, a guide proper comprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot and being disposed respectively in planes which are inclined with respect to each other; a ribbon latch; and means pivotally mounting said latch on one of said guide parts to move to a closed position in which it projects across the end of said slot and to an open position in which the end of the slot is left open for edgewise insertion of a ribbon, said latch having two spaced flat opposed portions adapted to have faceto-face frictional contact respectively with-opposite faces of the other of said guide parts for releasably holding said latch in closed position, the axis of said pivotal mounting means being at a moderate inclination to the planes of said flat opposed portions, whereby when the latch is moved toward closed position said portions will first engage said opposite guide part faces with the planes of said portions inclined with respect to the planes of said opposite guide part faces. 7

ARTHUR E. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,447 Manning June 17, 1902 855,542 VanAnden June 4, 1907 1,203,958 Anderson i ...1 Nov. 7, 1916 1,570,218 Handley Jan. 19, 1926 parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; and means pivotally mount- 

